APPLICABILITY OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY TO MANAGE FINANCIAL ISSUES IN THE SRI LANKAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The construction industry is one of the largest industries in any country, contributing significantly to economic growth. A range of researchers explained that the construction industry suffered from numerous issues where financial issues are more critical. Late payments, cash flow issues, and lack of security of the payment are some of them. Blockchain technology shows a potential use for managing financial activities. Therefore, this research tends to investigate the applicability of blockchain technology to manage financial issues in the Sri Lankan construction industry. A comprehensive literature survey was carried out to assess the concept of blockchain technology and identified financial issues in the construction industry. A qualitative expert opinion survey was conducted with eight construction experts who had knowledge of the blockchain technology, selected through purposive sampling to collect data in a Sri Lankan context. The collected data was analysed using the content analysis method. The findings of the expert interviews indicated that faster transactions would help to reduce late payments; removing third parties from the transaction will reduce the involvement of many parties in the transaction process; and trust, security, transparency will help to increase foreign investments. Further, the lack of knowledge in the area, legal and tax issues, low investment, and social issues will be the challenges in adopting blockchain technology to the construction industry. The research finally suggests the ways to overcome such challenges in terms of using pilot projects, government rules and regulation. Thus, the research proposes that use of blockchain technology could minimise a significant number of financial issues in the construction industry.

Using market mechanism to stimulate sustainable use of the non-renewable environmental resource (groundwater) in Barind Tract of Bangladesh

Agriculture, the main economic driver of Barind Tract, is highly dependent on groundwater for surface water paucity in the area. Notwithstanding, farmers use water capriciously due to its low price that makes a substantial drop in the water table. In this context, the research attempts to determine a market-based water pricing mechanism to encourage an optimal use of the scarce non-renewable resource. Required data was collected by questionnaire survey, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Contingent Valuation Method, expert-opinion survey and subsequent literature works. The results reveal that depletion level has arrived at 20, 11, 7.5 feet in high, mid and low tract respectively over the last 22 years, which results in a number of economic-environmental externalities in the area. The research monetarily evaluated the cost of externalities and incorporated it with the marginal cost of extraction to increase efficiency of an existing pricing system. Regarding human reaction to price elasticity, the new price can be a reliable attempt to reduce an overconsumption pattern of water. Quantity of consumed water can be reduced to 14190.4 m3, 17759.59 m3 and 38510.6 m3 in a year in high, mid and low tract area respectively with its implementation. The research will serve as an initiative to conserve the valuable groundwater resource for future generations by managing consumer practice.

Digit ratio (2D:4D) researchers on 2D:4D research: An expert survey

Research into the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D), an assumed negative correlate of prenatal testosterone, has grown substantially over the past decade, so interim stocktaking of this field seems appropriate. Forty-four (38% of all) corresponding authors of 2D:4D articles participated in an expert opinion survey, indicating their perceptions of 2D:4D research (top insights/achievements, gaps/desiderata, problems/pitfalls, prospects/expectations). Major themes emerging from these researchers’ content-analyzed survey responses included: calls for a general framework and research integration; for more theoretical rigor, experimental evidence, longitudinal studies, and animal research; and for measurement, methodology, study design, and data analysis standards in 2D:4D research. Mentioned high-priority issues of 2D:4D research, needed to be addressed and solved, included: lacking validation studies of 2D:4D (what it actually indexes, why it is influenced by prenatal hormones, including elucidation of its genetics), small effects, inconsistent or unreplicable findings, prevalence of correlational or underpowered studies, publication bias, and sparseness of meta-analyses.

Integrating Exploitative and Explorative Thinking in Business Process Analysis: A Conceptual Model and Method

Ambidextrous BPM has gained increasing interest from researchers and practitioners in the last years. It refers to the ability to use exploitative and explorative capabilities in BPM projects. In this paper, we investigate how the integration of exploitative and explorative ideas can leverage the analysis of business processes. The key contributions of this paper are a conceptual model and a method that integrate ambidextrous thinking in a complementary way. Both artefacts were evaluated by means of an expert opinion survey. We also present a case study at an organisation that has implemented our proposed method. We believe that ambidextrous analysis of business processes enables organisations tackling current operational bottlenecks while simultaneously exploring external opportunities for designing innovation in business processes.

Using Interviews to Evaluate Location-Based Games: Lessons and Challenges

Games User Research (GUR) is an interdisciplinary field of study that aims to measure, analyze, and understand the interaction and experience of players with digital games. Joining efforts to the advances in GUR, this work focuses on the evaluation of player interaction with Location-Based Games (LBGs), seeking to understand which aspects of this interaction can be explored through interviews and how researchers and practitioners have been using this method. We analyzed 23 studies that applied interviews to this end and conducted an expert opinion survey with the authors of these studies. As a result, we presented lessons and research challenges for the use of interviews in this type of evaluation, in hopes to encourage the conscious and systematic application of this method, in addition to guiding practitioners and researchers, especially beginners.

Multi-institutional Comparison of Temporal Bone Models: A Collaboration of the AAO-HNSF 3D-Printed Temporal Bone Working Group

Objective The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation’s (AAO-HNSF’s) 3D-Printed Temporal Bone Working Group was formed with the goal of sharing information and experience relating to the development of 3D-printed temporal bone models. The group conducted a multi-institutional study to directly compare several recently developed models. Study Design Expert opinion survey. Setting Temporal bone laboratory. Methods The working group convened in 2018. The various methods in which 3D virtual models had been created and printed in physical form were then shared and recorded. This allowed for comparison of the advantages, disadvantages, and costs of each method. In addition, a drilling event was held during the October 2018 AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting. Each model was drilled and evaluated by attending-level working group members using an 15-question Likert scale questionnaire. The models were graded on anatomic accuracy as well as their suitability as a simulation of both cadaveric and operative temporal bone drilling. Results The models produced for this study demonstrate significant anatomic detail and a likeness to human cadaver specimens for drilling and dissection. Models printed in standard resin material with a stereolithography printer scored highest in the evaluation, though the margin of difference was negligible in several categories. Conclusion Simulated 3D temporal bones created through a number of printing methods have potential benefit in surgical training, preoperative simulation for challenging otologic cases, and the standardized testing of temporal bone surgical skills.